USGS Data Collection and Analysis Support for Vegetation Structure Characterization and Wildland Fuel Assessment

*Applications will be reviewed on a rolling-basis.

USGS Office/Lab and Location: A research opportunity is currently available with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) located in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

The USGS mission is to monitor, analyze, and predict current and evolving dynamics of complex human and natural Earth-system interactions and to deliver actionable intelligence at scales and timeframes relevant to decision makers. As the Nation's largest water, earth, and biological science and civilian mapping agency, USGS collects, monitors, analyzes, and provides science about natural resource conditions, issues, and problems. 

Research Project: This opportunity will support research that is exploring the use of various remote sensing data types to assess vegetation structure and derive wildland fuels.  Both traditional forest mensuration data and terrestrial lidar will be collected in the field, which will then be used to derive tree lists and other relevant information to estimate vegetation structure, assess vegetation condition, and generate fuel load metrics at the plot level.  These data will then be combined with data collected from airborne or spaceborne platforms to extrapolate these observations to a landscape or regional scale.  The information products derived from these various mappings can be used to inform fire behavior models, characterize post-fire burn severity and fuels consumption, and monitor post-fire vegetation regeneration.  Current study sites include the Black Hills of South Dakota and the Sierra Nevada in California but may expand given research needs. 

Throught this mentored learning opportunity you will have the opportunity to:

• Participate in field data collection efforts to observe local vegetation conditions and record vegetation metrics such as tree height, canopy cover, and surface cover, among others.  Field sampling will use conventional methods as well as terrestrial lidar to gather the desired data.
• Organize and process the collected data to ensure quality control, develop a systematic data management structure, and create analysis-ready datasets to support further investigations.
• Identify relevant geospatial data (e.g., management units, satellite imagery, airborne lidar point clouds, topographic and landcover data) co-located with the plot locations, extract spatial subsets, and collate these with the field data observations.
• Integrate and analyze data to generate a suite of information products from the assembled data that relate local vegetation structure conditions to treatment type and history as well as the underlying physiography.

Learning Objectives: Through this mentored research experience, you will collaborate with USGS scientists specializing in wildland fire, remote sensing, GIS, and statistical analysis while gaining hands-on field training in forest mensuration. You will gain experience handling diverse geospatial datasets—including remotely sensed imagery, lidar, topographic and landcover data—and apply data processing, statistical analysis, and interpretation to address applied science and management questions. The internship will provide exposure to all phases of the scientific process, from data collection through analysis and presentation of findings. A primary mentor and project team will provide individualized guidance, regular feedback, and targeted skill development opportunities to support your professional growth.

Mentor: The mentor for this opportunity is Birgit Peterson (bpeterson@usgs.gov). If you have questions about the nature of the research please contact the mentor(s). 

Anticipated Appointment Start Date: June 15, 2026. Start date is flexible and will depend on a variety of factors.

Appointment Length: The appointment will initially be for 12 weeks, but may be renewed upon recommendation of DOI and is contingent on the availability of funds.

Level of Participation: The appointment is full time.

Participant Stipend: Stipend rates may vary based on numerous factors, including opportunity, location, education, and experience. If you are interviewed, you can inquire about the exact stipend rate at that time and if selected, your appointment offer will include the monthly stipend rate.

Citizenship Requirements: This opportunity is available to U.S. citizens, Lawful Permanent Residents (LPR), and foreign nationals. Non-U.S. citizen applicants should refer to the Guidelines for Non-U.S. Citizens Details page of the program website for information about the valid immigration statuses that are acceptable for program participation.

ORISE Information: This program, administered by ORAU through its contract with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to manage the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE), was established through an interagency agreement between DOE and USGS. Participants do not become employees of USGS, DOE or the program administrator, and there are no employment-related benefits. Proof of health insurance is required for participation in this program. Health insurance can be obtained through ORISE.

Questions: If you have questions about the application process please email USGS@orau.org  and include the reference code for this opportunity.